Floating basketball basket

ABSTRACT

A bascketball basket, fixed to a floating platform, useful for practising water sports, is described.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to water sport items and in particular to a floating basket which allows to play in the water a game similar to basketball.

STATE OF THE ART

Water games similar to basketball, in particular to be played in swimming pools, are known and various solution have been described in order to fix the position of the board and of the basket relatively to the water level (see for example FR 2632198, U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,749, U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,286.

However, all the suggested solutions present some drawbacks because they require to modify the swimming pool border, or the basket is too near to the border, causing possible injuries to the players, or they do not present the necessary stability and all the necessary features which make possible their actual use in the game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor set himself the task to eliminate the above said problems making possible the use of a structure absolutely safe and respecting the requirements necessary for the game.

Such task was solved thanks to a basket which is fixed on a floating platform (hereinafter floating basket) as hereinafter described and claimed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The advantages can be easily understood by any man of the art in view of the description and of the annexed

FIG. 1 which shows schematically the floating basket according to the invention, fixed to a swimming pool border.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As it is seen in the annexed FIGURE the floating basket according to the invention is formed by a platform 10 to which at least two poles 11, supporting the board 12, are fixed; the basket 13 being fixed to the board.

The platform 10, can be of whatever form and dimensions in so far as it is useful for the wanted purpose (for example in the form of a U, circular, rectangular, elliptical etc. both with a continuous surface or as a simple frame having the above said form) and is made of a floating material.

Preferably all the edges, floating above or under the water surface are rounded in order to avoid injuries to the players; if preferred, such edges can be further protected with suitable padding (for example inner tubes) for a better protection.

The platform can present fixing points 14 (for example two rings) which allow the anchorage of the platform to the swimming pool border (in one or several points) by suitable fixing tools (ropes, chains and similar).

The poles 11, solid or hollow and having whatever section (circular, polygonal, elliptical etc), are fixed with an end to the platform 10 and with the opposite end to the board 12 (preferably to the border of the board) by the usual fixing tools (U-bolts, screws, nuts, by gluing etc.) and can have any wanted form (straight, bend, L-form, arched, etc.)

If preferred a third pole 11 can be placed behind the board in order to increase the stability.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention the poles 11 can be telescopic in, order to vary, if necessary, the height of the board and therefore of the basket.

In particular when the platform consists of a frame structure (i.e. internally hollow) the poles 11 holding the board can be placed respectively on the opposite sides of the frame (for example two on the side behind the board and one holding the inferior side of the board on the opposite side of the frame, or vice versa).

The height of the poles 11 will be such to satisfy the game rules and for example will allow to fix the basket at about 110 cm above the water level.

Always in order to insure safety it is preferred that the board 12 slightly projects on the water so that the player do not risk to knock against the platform (for example, by performing a “smash”). Such projection can be obtained, for example, by leaning the poles 11 (and, if necessary, counterbalancing the opposite side accordingly) or by shaping the platform in such a way that it presents a concavity on the side corresponding to the board.

The board 12 and the basket 13 are of the kind normally used for the traditional basket ball game.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention the poles 11 are fixed to the platform by hinges or pins so that they can be folded when the floating basket must be removed or transported, obviously, for the same purpose, the basket to can be fixed to the board by the same fixing tools or by removable fixing tools.

In order to make it easier the transportation of the floating basket according to the invention it is possible to foresee a handle fixed in the middle of one side of the platform and possibly a belt (also fixed to a side of the platform 10) which allows to maintain in the folded position (as said above) the board, the poles and possibly the basket.

Preferably the various parts of the floating basket according to the invention will be made of material as light as possible but capable of assuring its stability.

It is clear, by drawing and description, that the floating basket according to the invention allows to play basketball in water applying practically the same rules adopted in the traditional game (a part from some obvious differences) guarantying the safety of the player and without requiring any modification of the swimming pool border. 

1. Basketball basket fixed to a floating platform.
 2. Basketball basket according to claim 1 consisting of: a platform (10) on which are fixed at least two poles (11) holding a board (12) to which the basket (13) is fixed.
 3. Basketball basket according to claim 2 wherein the border of the platform (10) are rounded or protected with suitable padding.
 4. Basketball basket according to claim 1 wherein the platform (10) presents two fixing points (14) for anchoring to a swimming pool border.
 5. Basketball basket according to claim 2 wherein the poles (11) are fixed to the platform (10) and to the board (12) by suitable fixing tools.
 6. Basketball basket according to claim 2 wherein the poles (11) are leaning in order that the board (12) and the basket (13) project on the water above the border of the platform (10).
 7. Basketball basket according to claim 6 wherein the platform (10) presents a counterbalancing weight on its side opposite to the one on which bases the board.
 8. Basketball basket according to claim 1 wherein the platform (10) presents a concavity on the side corresponding to the board (12).
 9. Basketball basket according to claim 1 wherein the poles (11) and possibly the basket are fixed through hinges or pins in order to allow their folding.
 10. Basketball basket according to claim 9 wherein the sides of the platform (10) present and handle and a belt capable of maintaining in folded position the board (12), poles (11) and possibly basket (13).
 11. Basketball basket according to claim 1 wherein the platform (10) consists of a frame (i.e. a surface internally hollow) having various forms.
 12. Basketball basket according to claim 11 wherein the platform (10) is rectangular and the poles (11) holding the board are placed respectively on the opposite sides of the frame: two on the side behind the board and one holding the inferior side of the board on the opposite side of the frame (or vice versa). 